Let’s Change the Face of Christmas Commercialism (Writer's Opinion)
By Carol Round, Special to ASSIST News Service (Writer’s Opinion)
GROVE, OK (ANS – November 27, 2016) -- “You
will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God” – 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV).
How
can we, as parents and grandparents, counter the commercialization of
Christmas in an age of spend, spend, spend? Recently, I came across a
young mother’s website. Because she wanted her children to experience
the true meaning of Christmas, she created a “Random Acts of Kindness
Christmas Calendar for Kids.”
She
discovered the idea on her Facebook feed last year and really liked the
idea of doing something kind each day leading up to Christmas. She
writes, “I also thought this was a wonderful way to help instill the
spirit of the season in my family. I didn’t want them to think Christmas
is all about getting toys.”
Because
her children are young, she wanted to create activities that kids could
do on their own to emphasize that each of us—no matter how small—can
make a difference. Her calendar also includes family activities that
include adult participation.
So grab a blank calendar and make a list of ideas with your children. Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Write a thank you note to someone who has helped you.
2. Compliment someone.
3. Pick up litter in your neighborhood.
4. Make cards for nursing home residents.
5. Fill a bag with books to donate to the library.
6. Make a card for a school staff member.
7. Write a letter to a military member.
8. Let someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery store, post office, etc.
9. Fill a box with toys to donate to charity.
10. Clean up a mess you didn’t make.
I’ve
discovered, however, that in the giving of ourselves, we are the ones
who are blessed. St. Francis of Assisi said, “For it is in giving that
we receive.”
Jesus
said it best in Luke 6:38: “For if you give, you will get! Your gift
will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken
together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you
use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to
you.”
Photo captions: 1) Santa's message. 2) Book cover. 3) Carol Round.
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